The appearance is said to be the first time the pair have seen each other since they were initially arrested for deception charges late last year and remanded into custody at two different jails.

After a police investigation following his reappearance was launched, he was initially charged with dishonestly obtaining a £25,000 life insurance payment and making an untrue statement to procure a passport.

Anne Darwin, who had sold up and moved to Panama just weeks before her husband's "reappearance", was then charged with dishonestly obtaining a £25,000 life insurance payment and a further policy worth £137,000.

They were due to appear at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court in connection with those charges on Friday. But on Tuesday they were charged with further offences and put before the court on Wednesday.

The pair, formerly of The Cliff, Seaton Carew, were yesterday further remanded in custody until they appear back at court separately via video link on January 18.

A commital date to transfer the case to Teesside Crown Court has been extended to February 15.John Darwin, 57, wearing a black leather jacket and cream jumper, and Anne Darwin, 55, wearing a light blue jacket, spoke only to confirm their names and ages and have not yet entered any pleas to the charges.Magistrates have declined jurisdiction for the new charges and the case will be heard at crown court.

In addition to the previous charge of obtaining property by deception and making an untrue statement to obtain a passport, John Darwin is accused of obtaining £137,515 from Norwich Union Life Services by deception on May 29, 2003.

The pair also jointly face four charges of obtaining around £85,000 by deception on dates between May 1, 2003, and November 29, last year.